synaesthetic
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2008
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As someone who has worked a number of years in the restaurant industry, I'll tell you why we have bad food.
Quantity over quality--people have this misconception that enormous portions means they're getting a value, even if said enormous portions are of lackluster quality.
Also, as was mentioned previously, the American restaurant industry knows the money is in the people who don't have time to cook their own food and consequently don't have time to sit in a nice restaurant and wait for someone else to cook their food. Thusly, we have an overabundance of places that serve prepackaged and preassembled items.
Sure, you may go out to that nice restaurant and spend $80+ on dinner and drinks with your sweetie once a month or so, but you're spending far more hitting up Taco Bell or McDonald's every day for $5 lunches.
The first world, not just America, is largely obsessed with processed food for reasons of convenience and cost-effectiveness. Fresh and whole foods have much shorter shelf lives and are more difficult and time-consuming to cook a meal with.
And while this isn't something folks think about often, it is true. The omnipresence of the "mega-mart" in America leads to a paucity of whole foods and a wide availability of inexpensive processed foods.
I barely exercise (other than walking as my primary means of transportation) and I maintain a fairly healthy weight despite the fact that I cook without regard to calorie content. Generally the summer is enough to knock out what the winter packs on; I swim constantly as it's the only exercise that doesn't drive me up the wall from boredom. Yes, I do smoke, and contrary to popular belief smoking does not really make you eat that much less. It seems like it does because most people who are trying to quit smoking will eat more than usual while going through nicotine withdrawal.
Quote:
Fresh and whole foods are much better for you, taste better and are more satisfying (you eat less without realizing it). Processed foods are filled with tons of bizarre chemicals that the human body has to deal with, often in a manner that makes you feel unpleasant.
Quantity over quality--people have this misconception that enormous portions means they're getting a value, even if said enormous portions are of lackluster quality.
Also, as was mentioned previously, the American restaurant industry knows the money is in the people who don't have time to cook their own food and consequently don't have time to sit in a nice restaurant and wait for someone else to cook their food. Thusly, we have an overabundance of places that serve prepackaged and preassembled items.
Sure, you may go out to that nice restaurant and spend $80+ on dinner and drinks with your sweetie once a month or so, but you're spending far more hitting up Taco Bell or McDonald's every day for $5 lunches.
The first world, not just America, is largely obsessed with processed food for reasons of convenience and cost-effectiveness. Fresh and whole foods have much shorter shelf lives and are more difficult and time-consuming to cook a meal with.
And while this isn't something folks think about often, it is true. The omnipresence of the "mega-mart" in America leads to a paucity of whole foods and a wide availability of inexpensive processed foods.
I barely exercise (other than walking as my primary means of transportation) and I maintain a fairly healthy weight despite the fact that I cook without regard to calorie content. Generally the summer is enough to knock out what the winter packs on; I swim constantly as it's the only exercise that doesn't drive me up the wall from boredom. Yes, I do smoke, and contrary to popular belief smoking does not really make you eat that much less. It seems like it does because most people who are trying to quit smoking will eat more than usual while going through nicotine withdrawal.
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Spareribs /img/forum/go_quote.gif I guess yummy food makes you thinner. |
Fresh and whole foods are much better for you, taste better and are more satisfying (you eat less without realizing it). Processed foods are filled with tons of bizarre chemicals that the human body has to deal with, often in a manner that makes you feel unpleasant.
